Abstract
Dysregulation of complement factor D (CFD) has been associated with various diseases, such as metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal disorders. However, its role in intestinal function has been less studied. Our research found that CFD-deficient (Cfd–/–) mice exhibited spontaneous slow transit constipation (STC) compared to wild-type (WT) mice. Moreover, the fecal weight and water content in Cfd–/– mice were significantly reduced, despite no specific changes in feeding behavior. Reduced C-kit protein expression, colon injury, complement dysfunction and dysbiosis of the fecal microbiota are also observed in Cfd–/– mice. After microbiota transplantation from WT mice into Cfd–/– mice, reduced stool output, water content, decreased C-kit protein expression and colon injury were significantly improved. These results indicate that CFD is critical for controlling microbial homeostasis in the colon and, in its absence, leads to colon injury and promotes slow transit constipation.
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This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (82173190).
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Conceptualization: Qing Wei; methodology: Qing Wei and Dengfeng Huang; validation: Dengfeng Huang and Shouxin Hu; formal analysis: Shouxin Hu and Hu Liu; investigation: Shouxin Hu and Hu Liu; data curation: Dengfeng Huang; writing—original draft preparation: Shouxin Hu; writing—review and editing: Qing Wei and Dengfeng Huang; supervision: Qing Wei; project administration: Feifei Song; funding acquisition: Feifei Song.
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Hu, S., Liu, H., Song, F. et al. CFD protein deficiency induce slow transit constipation is correlated with gut microbial dysbiosis. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41597-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-41597-x
